An Essex County man employed as a food services worker in a high school was arrested today for distributing explicit images of minors, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
According to U.S. Attorney Sellinger, Ezra W. Saphire, 29, of West Orange, is charged by complaint with distribution of explicit images of minors.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Saphire was employed as a food services contractor at a high school in East Hanover.
From June 9, 2021, through January 22, 2022, law enforcement conducted undercover online sessions using a publicly-available peer-to-peer (P2P) software application program, a method of communication available to Internet users through the use of special software that allows users to trade digital files through a worldwide network that is formed by linking computers together.
Law enforcement officers used P2P software to download 1,014 video files and 659 image files containing explicit images of minors through the IP address associated with Saphire’s residence.
These files included multiple visual depictions of minors being explicitly abused by adults.